Hi~~" She said, looking up at me from the side, a big smile plastered on her face. She didn't seem to want to let me go.
"Hello again…"
...
We were now waiting under an enormous tree, of which the origin was unknown to me, while the other group formed themselves.
I looked around, observing the other students. There was no one who particularly stood out for me.
As I continued, my eyes landed on my classmate, Ela.
This one still hasn't found anyone to go with.
Moreover, the other students didn't seem to particularly want her, as no one went to invite her.
Maybe they thought she was too weak, judging her solely based on her outer physical appearance.
But I'd say they weren't really wrong since she really gave the impression she wasn't sure of herself, most of the time acting clumsily. Which contrasted greatly with my first impression of her.
When I first saw Ela in Professor Bernard's class, she seemed so confident and dignified-looking that she gave the feeling she wasn't afraid of anything. A true icy character.
But now, all I could see was a timid and clumsy girl, too afraid to go towards others.
-Maybe she wasn't comfortable socializing.
Looking one last time, I soon diverted my attention somewhere else.
-If she still doesn't find anyone later, I will ask the other if she can join too.
"So tell us, what is your specialization?" asked Vincent with a cheeky smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what you excel best at? Healing, attack, defense?"
"Oh... Yes. I don't really know... I'm quite new to magic, you see. I am a newly-minted magic student." I lied through my teeth.
Yes, I only began attending the academy now—being late for the rest of my classes by four years—but I wasn't in any way new to magic.
But I couldn't actually explain that to them.
"Really! How come?" interjected Mitia, blinking.
"I am a new student."
"You do look quite young, it's true. Then, why are you with us?" said Vincent.
"In the senior course? Because I took a test of aptitude and the committee accepted."
"Wow, that's great!" Said Mitia, in awe.
"Yes."
"Well, for me, it's attack!" Said Vincent, fire in is eyes, "And Kiki, it's more of defense."
....
As we continued our conversation, my eyes darted around again.
As I guessed, Ela was still all alone, somehow depressed.
'I will ask her then,' I thought.
"I wanted to know if you would be okay adding another one to our team, since we can go to seven members? It's an acquaintance of mine."
"Yeah, no problem for me." I replied to Dan with a smile.
"Us too." Said the others.
"Thanks."
Having the approval of everyone, I walked to Ela, smiling gently.
This one was fiddling with her hands, too shy to look at me directly.
-Oh, my, what a cute one indeed.
"Hey! I saw you from other there; would you like to join our groups?"
"Huh-Yeah, yeah... Very much, thank you."
"Really? Great then. Come with me; I will introduce you to the others."
"Ok-ok-k...."
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« Okay ! I see that everyone has found a team." Began professor Ketchman, slowly overlooking everyone.
"Now then, I will ask each of you to make sure to stay safe. We will be here if anything arises. Good luck, children."
"Thanks." Everyone replied before entering further into the forest.
To be more efficient, our group had already discussed a plan beforehand. We would first go into the further east, where there were fewer beasts to adapt to the environment.
There, we would observe them and take notes on their behavior, their characteristics, etc. As for this exercise, we had to submit a report as a group to the professor.
But we hadn't found a detailed tactic about how we would work to capture one target yet. Maybe we would figure it out once it was in place.
Using magic, I accelerated my pace to go faster.
I would have used magic to fly, but I couldn't do that in public, as I wasn't supposed, at my level, to be able to.
I wanted to stay low-key.
Around me, there were rows of giant trees, absolutely breathtaking. They were grand and beautiful. They gave the impression that they could touch the sky.
As I advanced, I felt the wind against my skin, refreshing me.
My hair, a swirl of pink cloud, danced as I rapidly moved. And my feet were so fast that they barely touched the ground, creating the illusion of semi-flying.
At my side, Ela was running with me while matching everyone's pace.
This one, after a few minutes of knowing everyone, seemed already more at ease. Just as I thought, she just wasn't good with socializing, but once she was more comfortable, she was like a fish underwater.
I think she's the kind of girl who can only thrive in her own environment, a little cut off from the world.
A few minutes later, we arrived at our destination.
On the road, we practically meet no beasts, and if we did, they would run as far as possible from us, making it impossible to capture or even observe them.
"I don't see any beasts here. Is it normal that they are so vigilant?" Asked, Kiki, doubtful.
"That's right, do they always behave like that, or is something making them more aware?" Said Dan, also questioning the reason for the sudden change in behavior of the beasts.
Magic beasts weren't usually fearful. Unless they felt that their opponent was inherently stronger than them, they had no chance of winning.
I guessed that they, as instinctual individuals, could feel the extent of my power. And even if they couldn't, they could at least feel that they weren't strong enough to overpower me.
But I couldn't control it; magic wasn't something so easy to hide. It was engraved in the soul.
"I think they are just more guarded since there is a sudden increase of humans in the area. They must somehow feel it." I said, trying to redirect their thinking.
"Yeah, you must be right." Said Danny while looking around, "What should we do then? Should we change the area?"
"No. If Georgia is right, it will be the same everywhere then. How about we think about a tactic to capture one first?" Said Kiki.
"Yes, even if we can't observe them, we can at least hunt them. We don't need them to stay put for that." Replied Meo, silent until now.